mesh

[ mesh ]
See synonyms for mesh on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any knit, woven, or knotted fabric of open texture.

  2. an interwoven or intertwined structure; network.

  1. any arrangement of interlocking metal links or wires with evenly spaced, uniform small openings between, as used in jewelry or sieves.

  2. one of the open spaces between the cords or ropes of a net.

  3. meshes,

    • the threads that bind such spaces.

    • the means of catching or holding fast: to be caught in the meshes of the law.

  4. Machinery. the engagement of gear teeth.

  5. Electricity. a set of branches that forms a closed path in a network so that removal of a branch results in an open path.

  6. Metallurgy. a designation of a given fineness of powder used in powder metallurgy in terms of the number of the finest screen through which almost all the particles will pass: This powder is 200 mesh.

verb (used with object)
  1. to catch or entangle in or as if in a net; enmesh.

  2. to form with meshes, as a net.

  1. Machinery. to engage, as gear teeth.

  2. to cause to match, coordinate, or interlock: They tried to mesh their vacation plans.

verb (used without object)
  1. to become enmeshed.

  2. Machinery. to become or be engaged, as the teeth of one gear with those of another.

  1. to match, coordinate, or interlock: The two versions of the story don't mesh.

Origin of mesh

1
1375–1425; late Middle English mesch, apparently continuing Old English masc, max; akin to Old High German māsca,Middle Dutch maesche

Other words for mesh

Other words from mesh

  • in·ter·mesh, verb (used without object)
  • mis·mesh, verb
  • un·mesh, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for mesh

mesh

/ (mɛʃ) /


noun
  1. a network; net

  2. an open space between the strands of a network

  1. (often plural) the strands surrounding these spaces

  2. anything that ensnares, or holds like a net: the mesh of the secret police

  3. the engagement of teeth on interacting gearwheels: the gears are in mesh

  4. a measure of spacing of the strands of a mesh or grid, expressed as the distance between strands for coarse meshes or a number of strands per unit length for fine meshes

verb
  1. to entangle or become entangled

  2. (of gear teeth) to engage or cause to engage

  1. (intr often foll by with) to coordinate (with): to mesh with a policy

  2. to work or cause to work in harmony

Origin of mesh

1
C16: probably from Dutch maesche; related to Old English masc, Old High German masca

Derived forms of mesh

  • meshy, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012